System for transmitting signals between optical transceivers

Abstract

A communications system for transmitting optical signals between an optical transceiver (20) disposed on an aircraft and a ground-based computer system. The communications system includes a fiber optic cable (30) having one end coupled to the ground-based computer system and another end coupled to a magnetic attachment head (40). The magnetic attachment head secures the fiber optic cable to the aircraft and aligns the fiber optic cable with the optical transceiver.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A system for carrying optical signals between an optical transceiver disposed on an aircraft for receiving and transmitting free-space optical signals, and a ground-based computer system, the system comprising: a fiber optic cable that can be coupled to the ground-based computer system for carrying the optical signals produced by the optical transceiver disposed on the aircraft; and   means for coupling the fiber optic cable to the aircraft and for aligning the fiber optic cable with the optical transceiver so that the fiber optic cable carries the optical signals produced by the optical transceiver from the optical transceiver to the ground-based computer system.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for coupling the fiber optic cable to the aircraft comprises: an attachment head that includes one or more magnets positioned to secure the attachment head to the aircraft and align the fiber optic cable with the optical transceiver.   
     
     
       3. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for coupling the fiber optic cable to the aircraft further comprises: one or more magnetic target elements disposed on the aircraft in a pattern corresponding to the position of the magnets in the attachment head, the magnetic target elements acting together with the one or more magnets to secure the attachment head onto the aircraft and align the fiber optic cable with the optical transceiver.   
     
     
       4. The system of claim 2, wherein the attachment head further comprises: means for containing one or more magnetic fields produced by the one or more magnets so as to release the attachment head from the aircraft.   
     
     
       5. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for containing the one or more magnetic fields produced by the one or more magnets comprises: one or more magnetic keepers that are positioned to intercept the one or more magnetic fields produced by the one or more magnets, such that the magnetic keepers form one or more closed magnetic circuits so as to release the attachment head from the aircraft.   
     
     
       6. The system of claim 5, further comprising means for moving the one or more magnets away from the one or more magnetic keepers, such that the magnetic fields produced by the magnets extend outwardly from the attachment head so as to engage the magnetic target elements when the attachment head is attached to the aircraft. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for moving the one or more magnets away from the one or more magnetic keepers comprises: a rotary plate on which one or more of the magnets are mounted, the rotary plate including an axis about which said one or more magnets rotate; and   means for rotating the rotary plate, such that said one or more magnets rotate away from the magnetic keepers.   
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of pole piece extenders disposed on a plate upon which the magnetic keepers are disposed and wherein the means for rotating the rotary plate operates to align said one or more magnets with the pole piece extenders. 
     
     
       9. A system for use with an aircraft communications system that includes an optical transceiver disposed on an aircraft, and coupled to an aircraft computer system, for transmitting and receiving free-space optical signals from a ground-based computer system, wherein the optical signals correspond to data transmitted between the aircraft computer system and the ground-based computer system, the system comprising: a fiber optic cable having a first end couplable to the ground-based computer system, a second end couplable to the aircraft; and   a magnetic attachment head disposed at the second end of the fiber optic cable adapted to couple the fiber optic cable to the aircraft and to magnetically align the fiber optic cable on the aircraft such that optical signals produced by the optical transceiver disposed on the aircraft are transmitted to and received from the ground-based computer system through the fiber optic cable instead of through free space.   
     
     
       10. The system of claim 9, further comprising: a second magnetic attachment head disposed at the first end of the fiber optic cable and adapted to couple the fiber optic cable to the ground-based computer system.   
     
     
       11. The system of claim 9, wherein the magnetic attachment head further comprises: at least one electromagnet; and   means for energizing the electromagnet to produce a magnetic field that couples the magnetic attachment head to the aircraft when the magnetic attachment head is in an attached and aligned position.   
     
     
       12. The system of claim 9, wherein the magnetic attachment head further comprises: a plurality of magnets; and   one or more magnetic target elements disposed on the aircraft, the magnetic target elements acting together with the plurality of magnets to hold the magnetic attachment head onto the aircraft when the magnetic attachment head is in an attached and aligned position.   
     
     
       13. The system of claim 12, wherein the magnetic attachment head further comprises: a rotatable plate upon which the plurality of magnets are disposed; and   a plurality of magnetic keepers coupled to a second plate and positioned to intercept the magnetic fields produced by the plurality of magnets when the attachment head is in an off position, such that the magnetic keepers and magnets form a plurality of closed magnetic circuits, thereby releasing the magnetic attachment head from the aircraft.   
     
     
       14. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for moving the plurality of magnets away from the plurality of magnetic keepers such that the magnetic fields produced by the plurality of magnets extend outwardly from the magnetic attachment head. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for moving the plurality of magnets away from the plurality of magnetic keepers comprises: a pair of pins disposed on the rotatable plate;   a cable; and   a claw coupled to the cable and movable therewith such that as the cable is pulled, the claw engages one of the pairs of pins and rotates the rotor plate about an axis and moves the plurality of magnets out of alignment with the plurality of magnetic keepers.   
     
     
       16. In a system for use with an aircraft communications system that transmits data between an aircraft computer system and a ground-based computer system wherein the aircraft communications system includes a first optical transceiver disposed on an aircraft for producing and receiving free-space optical signals that correspond to the data transmitted between the aircraft and ground-based computer system, the improvement comprising: a fiber optic cable that can be coupled between the ground-based computer system and the optical transceiver, for carrying the optical signals between the ground-based computer system and the optical transceiver; and   an attachment head that releasably secures the fiber optic cable directly to the aircraft and aligns the fiber optic cable with the optical transceiver.   
     
     
       17. A method of transmitting data between an aircraft computer system and a ground-based computer system, comprising the steps of: coupling an optical transceiver to the aircraft computer system;   producing a series of optical signals that correspond to data to be transmitted between the aircraft computer system and the ground-based computer system at the optical transceiver;   coupling a fiber optic cable to the ground-based computer system;   coupling the fiber optic cable to the optical transceiver disposed on the aircraft with a releasable magnetic attachment head;   aligning the magnetic attachment head until the fiber optic cable is aligned with the optical transceiver; and   transmitting the optical signals from the optical transceiver disposed on the aircraft directly through the fiber optic cable to the ground-based computer system.   
     
     
       18. A system for use with an aircraft communications system that includes an optical transceiver disposed on an aircraft, and coupled to an aircraft computer system, for transmitting and receiving free-space optical signals from a ground-based computer system, wherein the optical signals correspond to data transmitted between the aircraft computer system and the ground-based computer system, the system comprising: a fiber optic cable having a first end couplable to a ground-based computer system;   a magnetic attachment head disposed at a second end of the fiber optic cable and adapted to couple the fiber optic cable to the aircraft such that optical signals produced by the optical transceiver disposed on the aircraft are transmitted to the ground-based computer system through the fiber optic cable instead of through free-space, the magnetic attachment head comprising:   a plurality of magnets disposed on a first plate;   a plurality of magnetic keepers disposed on a second plate and positioned to intercept the magnetic fields produced by the plurality of magnets when the attachment head is in an off position, such that the magnetic keepers and magnets form a plurality of closed magnetic circuits;   means for moving the plurality of magnets away from the plurality of magnetic keepers such that the magnetic fields produced by the plurality of magnets extend outwardly from the magnetic attachment head when the attachment head is in an on position, wherein the means for moving the plurality of magnets includes:   a pair of pins disposed on at least one of the first and second plates;   a cable; and   a claw coupled to the cable and movable therewith such that the claw engages the pair of pins to rotate at least one of the first and second plates and move the plurality of magnets out of alignment with the plurality of magnetic keepers.   
     
     
       19. A system for carrying optical signals between an optical transceiver for receiving and transmitting free-space optical signals disposed on an aircraft and a ground-based computer system, the system comprising: a fiber optic cable for carrying the optical signals produced by the optical transceiver to the ground-based computer system;   an attachment head for coupling the fiber optic cable to the aircraft and for aligning the fiber optic cable with the optical transceiver, the attachment head including:   a plurality of magnets positioned so as to interact with a plurality of magnetic target elements disposed on the aircraft; and   one or more magnetic keepers positioned so as to form a closed magnetic circuit with the plurality of magnets when the attachment head is in an off position, thereby releasing the magnetic attachment head from the aircraft, and to allow the magnetic fields produced by the plurality of magnets to extend outwardly from the magnetic attachment head when the magnetic attachment head is in an on position, thereby allowing the magnetic fields to secure the magnetic attachment head to the aircraft.